Pro Series Shield Shared as Bank Holiday showdown looms

The LiveSport.co.uk Pro Series finished as a stalemate at New Williamfield, Stirling last week as a rain affected draw ensure the series finished 0-0.

The Highlanders chose to bat on the third morning in what ultimately proved to be the vain hope that they could bowl the Reivers out twice in just over 90 overs.

Captain Craig Wallace was dismissed soon after the resumption of play for a well-crafted 79 before Calvin Burnett showed his undoubted ball striking ability, making 81 not out off 97 balls. This included three consecutive towering sixes off Majid Haq to prompt a Highlanders declaration on 332/9.

Any hope the Highlanders had of victory was extinguished by a superb opening stand of 179 between youngsters Neil Smith and Michael English. Smith was first to perish for 81, before English fell four short of his maiden Pro Series hundred.

The match finally ended with the Reivers making 272/5 before stumps were drawn and the match declared a draw.

Both teams have announced similar line ups for the final Pro 50mTrophy match at Mannofield on Monday (11.45am start).

Captain Preston Mommsen returns to the line up from injury, replacing the unavailable Ross McLean, while the Reivers have recalled the experienced duo of Scott Beveridge and Qasim Sheikh to their squad.

The Reivers lead the best of five series 2-0 with two games abandoned and will be hoping to secure a hat trick of victories, while the Highlanders will be looking for a morale boosting victory prior to the Pro 20 Blitz matches the following Sunday.